Skip to main content

3-Ingredient Microwave Caramel Sauce

3.9

(21)

Image may contain Food Creme Dessert Cream and Ice Cream
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi

In Epi's 3-Ingredient Recipes series, we show you how to make great food with just three ingredients (plus staples like oil, salt, and pepper).

This easy recipe gives you caramel sauce anytime you want it. Use it to make our Gooey Chocolate Microwave Mug Cake, or drizzle over ice cream, pancakes, or into your morning mug of coffee.

Cooks' Note

To make 2/3 cup caramel sauce, quadruple the ingredients in a 24-ounce microwave-safe mug or deep bowl and increase each cooking time by 15 seconds.

This recipe was developed using a 1200-watt microwave. If your microwave wattage is lower, you may have to increase cooking time.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    3 minutes

  • Yield

    2 heaping tablespoons

Ingredients

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon heavy cream
Pinch of salt

Special Equipment

A 12-ounce microwave-safe mug (preferably thin-walled) or deep bowl

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place butter in mug and microwave on high 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, cream, and salt; stir to combine, and microwave on high 30 seconds. Carefully remove, stir, and microwave on high 15 seconds. Stir and serve.

  2. Do Ahead

    Step 2

    Caramel sauce can be made 1 week ahead. Store in an airtight container and chill. Gently reheat to use.

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Every sauce needs a few secrets. Ours is smoky, sweet, and savory—use it for burgers, fries, tenders, and more.
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
Tangy and sunny, this curd can be made with either fresh or frozen pulp.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
Yes, it's a shortcut in a microwave. It's also a gooey, fudgy, wildly good chocolate cake.
You can enjoy these madeleines with just powdered sugar—or decorate them with a colorful white chocolate shell.
These soft butter cookies are made with mooncake molds, reminiscent of block print stamps from Jaipur.
Need an elegant dinner party dessert? A quick tea cake? A vacation birthday bake? This chocolaty wonder fits every bill.